Larry Fitzgerald's future coming down to finances

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald signs autographs during the opening day of training camp practices at University of Phoenix Stadium on July 26, 2014.(Photo: Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports)

Over the past decade, the image of Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald sprinting down the sideline, hair flapping against the name on his jersey, eyes wide and focused on the football sailing his way has become an iconic one to the team's fans.

It's one fans should savor in 2014, because this could be Fitzgerald's last training camp with the Cardinals.

The reason is money, no surprise.

Fitzgerald's salary-cap figure increases $15 million to $23.6 million. That will be between 15 percent and 20 percent of the salary cap, a huge amount to invest in one player.

At this juncture, the Cardinals want to keep Fitzgerald, and he wants to stay. Making that happen, however, will be challenging, to say the least.

"It would probably be difficult," said Jason Fitzgerald, a cap expert who operates the website overthecap.com. "Arizona currently has around $135 million already committed to the 2015 cap, a figure that includes no quarterback."

Cardinals President Michael Bidwill said the team's intent hasn't changed: It wants Fitzgerald to retire as an Arizona Cardinal.

"We've worked hard to keep him a Cardinal," Bidwill told Channel 12 on Friday. "We're going to keep him a Cardinal."

General Manager Steve Keim echoed that but preferred not to discuss the issue in depth.

"I can't do anything to control that right now," Fitzgerald said. "I just focus on the process of getting better every day, to be the best player I can be. My dad told me a long time ago, just control the things you can control. I'm just going to control my effort, my preparation."

When the time comes to discuss his contract, however, Fitzgerald will have some control.

He could agree to a restructured contract that pays him considerably less than the $60 million or so he is scheduled to make through 2018.

The easiest way for Fitzgerald to remain with the Cardinals is to accept a new deal that pays him an average of $6 million to $8 million.

Otherwise, the Cardinals likely will be forced to release or trade him. Neither option is attractive.

Releasing or trading Fitzgerald would result in a cap savings of $9.2 million, but the team would still be taking a charge of $14.4 million for a player who is gone.

A trade will be difficult to pull off for several reasons.

"One is the large salaries that he is due," Jason Fitzgerald said. "Fitzgerald is set to earn $16.25 million and $15.25 million in 2015 and 2016 respectively, highest in the NFL over the two-year period.

"For someone who would be a 32-year-old receiver who has not produced a 1,000-yard season since 2011, no team would likely even consider paying close to that number. His former teammate, who went through a similar statistical stretch, Anquan Boldin, has earned around $6 million a season, which would be more realistic."

Also complicating matters is that Fitzgerald is due an $8 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year, which begins in March. He would need to be traded before that deadline, which doesn't give Arizona much time.

"The auiring team would most likely want to rework the contract to make it more reasonable against the cap," Jason Fitzgerald said, "and again they would need to do that before the big roster bonus locks in. So essentially you have a five day window to trade and rework his contract."

That the Cardinals and Fitzgerald are at this point is not a surprise.

Fitzgerald and his agent, Eugene Parker, had great leverage in all three contracts with the Cardinals.

They were smart negotiators and constructed contracts in such a way that Fitzgerald received three deals before age 30.

And Fitzgerald has done his part in the community and on the field. He's made eight Pro Bowls and helped the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl appearance.

To a large extent, Fitzgerald's future in Arizona depends upon the 2014 season.

If he doesn't produce, he loses leverage.

If the Cardinals don't perform well, Fitzgerald, who turns 31 in August, might want to pursue a championship elsewhere.

And if the Cardinals play well and receive production from their other receivers, most notably Michael Floyd, they have some leverage in asking Fitzgerald to take less money.

Before the team's first training-camp practice on Saturday, Fitzgerald insisted next year is not on his mind.

"You start thinking about next year and this and that, you forget about what you should be doing today," Fitzgerald said.

"That is not aligned with who I am as a person and my beliefs and character to be worrying about things like that.

"It always takes care of itself. I enjoy the game, the process and being around the guys. I'm getting paid to play a kids' game, and I couldn't ask for a better scenario."

Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu puts on his helmet as he returned to active duty at training camp on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett goes down in pain during training camp Monday, Aug. 18, 2014 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. Dockett left the field on a cart. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett goes down in pain during training camp Monday, Aug. 18, 2014 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. Dockett left the field on a cart. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett goes down in pain during training camp Monday, Aug. 18, 2014 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. Dockett left the field on a cart. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett goes down in pain during training camp Monday, Aug. 18, 2014 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. Dockett left the field on a cart. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett goes down in pain during training camp Monday, Aug. 18, 2014 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. Dockett left the field on a cart. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians makes his players run following a scuffle at training camp on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)

Cardinals DT Darnell Dockett puts his practice helemt on during training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium July 29, 2014. The league won't let him play with this during the season. (Photo: Michael Chow/azcentral sports)

The Cardinals' Patrick Peterson celebrates with Rashad Johnson (left) after breaking-up a pass play to Ted Ginn Jr. at training camp Monday, July 28, 2014 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)

Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson takes a selfie for a fan while signing autographs after practice during training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. July 27, 2014. (Photo: Michael Chow/azcentral sports)

Cardinals QB Logan Thomas throws a pass during training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. July 27, 2014. He was drafted this year in the 4th round from Virginia Tech. (Photo: Michael Chow/azcentral sports)

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Camp confidential: For the second straight year, coach Bruce Arians has brought in a handful of coaching interns to help out and learn the ropes at camp. Most of them are usually former players trying to get into the coaching business. This year's coaching interns are Fred Miller, Daylon McCutcheon, Corey Ivy, O.J. Santiago and Jeremy Bridges. … Apparently, Arians isn't totally giving up on the idea of using cornerback Patrick Peterson on punt returns. He mentioned on Saturday how the team used both Peterson and safety Tyrann Mathieu as tandem punt returners and said that package will remain in place when Mathieu gets healthy. "How much we use Patrick is still yet to be seen," Arians said. … Arians said he likes the team's rookie class but laughed when someone asked him if they're ready for camp. "No, they're never ready," he said. "They think they're ready — until that noise level goes up on them in two days (and the team starts practicing in full pads). It's a little bit different when they start getting whacked around."

Quotable: "Now that I know what a bunch of piranhas you guys are, it's easy."

— Arians, when asked if he feels more comfortable now that he's in his second year

Injury report: Other than the two players the team put on the physically-unable-to-perform list — Mathieu (knee) and defensive tackle Alameda Ta'amo (knee), the Cardinals report no injuries. "We're as healthy as I've ever seen," Arians said.

Coming up: The team will practice Sunday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at University of Phoenix Stadium. Gates open at 1 p.m. Parking lots open at 12:30 p.m.